Stallion Laguna comes to Ho Chi Minh City for the AFC Women's Champions League.
Stallion Laguna landed at Tan Son Nhat airport on the afternoon of November 9th, becoming the first team to qualify for Group A of the AFC Champions League 2025/26, which will take place from November 13-19 at Thong Nhat Stadium. Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club I is ready with 6 foreign players and goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh returning.
On the afternoon of November 9th, the Stallion Laguna women's club (Philippines) arrived at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, becoming the first team to arrive in Vietnam to prepare for Group A of the AFC Champions League 2025/26. The group stage matches will take place from November 13th to 19th at Thong Nhat Stadium, giving the Ho Chi Minh City I women's club the home advantage.
Group A kicks off at Thong Nhat Stadium: schedule and opponents.
Group A of the 2025/26 AFC Champions League features four teams:
- Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club I (home team)
- Melbourne City FC (Australia)
- Stallion Laguna (Philippines)
- Lion City Sailors FC (Singapore)
According to the schedule, Melbourne City FC and Lion City Sailors FC will arrive on November 10th and 11th, respectively. The fact that the entire group stage takes place between November 13th and 19th allows for a more focused schedule, creating a continuous rhythm of competition for the teams.
Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club I squad: 6 foreign players, Kim Thanh returns.
After successfully defending their domestic title, Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club I has significantly strengthened its squad for continental competition with six foreign players – a record number in the club's history. The list includes four players who competed last season: Aubrey Goodwill, Maria Khan (Pakistan), Sakura Yoshida, Tatiana Mason (USA), and two new recruits: Ouni Samia (Tunisia) and Gorman Chloe.
In addition, goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh returns after playing for Thai Nguyen T&T. The "World Cup hero" of the Vietnamese women's national team is expected to strengthen the home team's defense in the upcoming matches.
Tactical perspective: home advantage and squad depth
The Thong Nhat Stadium provided a crucial foundation for TP.HCM I in terms of ball control and match habits. With Group A playing continuously for a week, possessing a deep squad with six foreign players allowed the coach more options for rotation and personnel adjustments based on each opponent.
Kim Thanh's return strengthens the penalty area and the organization of the defense, providing a foundation for the attackers to be more confident upfront. With opponents spread across three different countries, adapting to playing conditions and travel is also something the home team doesn't need to worry about.
The early presence of Stallion Laguna
Stallion Laguna's early arrival in Ho Chi Minh City demonstrates their determination to adapt to the weather and pitch conditions before embarking on the packed schedule of Group A matches. This is also an opportunity for the Philippine representative to finalize their preparations.
Recent form: signals from Huỳnh Như
In the recent friendly match, Huỳnh Như scored, leading Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club to a 2-1 victory, resulting in a defeat for the Vietnamese women's national team in the return leg in Hanoi. This goal was a positive highlight for the home team's attack ahead of the continental tournament.
Route for welcoming visiting teams
- 9/11: Stallion Laguna arrives at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
– November 10th: Melbourne City FC is expected to arrive.
– November 11th: Lion City Sailors FC is expected to assemble in Ho Chi Minh City.
All eyes are on the match week from November 13th to 19th at Thong Nhat Stadium, where Ho Chi Minh City Women's Club I aims for a strong start on the continental stage.